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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“All My Loving” by The Beatles is written in the key of D Major. It’s pop and rock style includes elements of British Invasion and Merseybeat. It shows a common chord progression modified with additional chords and modulation.

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“With a Little Help from My Friends” is a song by the Beatles from their 1967 album ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’. It features Ringo Starr who sings the song in the role of ‘Billy Shears’, a fictional character from the ‘Sgt. Pepper’ album. It was composed by Paul McCartney and John Lennon.

The full chord sequence you provided represents the verse. The song itself is predominantly in E Major, but contains several borrowed chords and modal exchanges. As was common with Beatles’s compositions, they often incorporated intricate chord progressions and did not strictly adhere to traditional key signatures.

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“Creep” by Radiohead is a song in the key of G major that features a four-chord progression in its verse 2, which is distinctive for its use of a borrowed chord from the parallel minor (G minor). Although the song’s simple harmonic structure is quite common in pop music, its use of a borrowed chord adds an element of surprise and emotional depth, establishing Radiohead’s unique sound.

“Strawberry Fields Forever” by The Beatles is one of the excellent examples of the unique and complex style popular in the late 1960’s. It is in the key of E and further progresses to F# minor. The progression utilizes modal interchange, chromaticism, and unusual chord progressions to create a dreamlike and psychedelic landscape that perfectly suits the lyrical theme of the song.

The chord progression in Muse’s “Endlessly” from Verse 2 is a mix of diatonic chords and a borrowed chord from the parallel major key. The progression has a melancholic feel, utilizing suspended chords to create tension and release. The use of both minor and major chords provides a balanced sound, giving the piece its unique character.

The Beatles – All My Loving – Verse 2

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Chord Progression

[‘Em’, ‘A7’, ‘D’, ‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘A7’, ‘Em’, ‘A7’, ‘D’, ‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘A’, ‘D’]

Chord Progression Analysis

Here is the chord progression for Verse 2 with its full chord names and their Roman numerals:

– E Minor (‘Em’) – vi
– A Dominant 7th (‘A7’) – V7
– D Major (‘D’) – I
– B Minor (‘Bm’) – vi
– G Major (‘G’) – IV
– E Minor (‘Em’) – vi
– C Major (‘C’) – II
– A Dominant 7th (‘A7’) – V7
– E Minor (‘Em’) – vi
– A Dominant 7th (‘A7’) – V7
– D Major (‘D’) – I
– B Minor (‘Bm’) – vi
– G Major (‘G’) – IV
– A Major (‘A’) – V
– D Major (‘D’) – I

Borrowed chord:

The C Major chord is a borrowed chord from the parallel minor key, D minor.

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C Major ‘II’
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Similar Chord Progressions

A similar chord progression can be found in “Cherry Wine” by Hozier, and structured as follows:

– E Minor (‘Em’)
– A Dominant 7th (‘A7’)
– D Major (‘D’)
– B Minor (‘Bm’)
– G Major (‘G’)
– E Minor (‘Em’)
– C Major (‘C’)
– D Major (‘D’)

Another similar chord progression is in “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King, as follows:

– G Major (‘G’)
– E Minor (‘Em’)
– C Major (‘C’)
– D Major (‘D’)

Musical Analysis

“All My Loving” prominently features a walking bassline and 2-beat percussive pattern that emblematic of the Merseybeat sound popular in the early 1960s. In particular, the use of E minor and D Major tonalities within the verse sections provides a unique colouring to the piece, lending a melancholic and contemplative undertone to the otherwise upbeat pop structure.

Overall Analysis

“All My Loving” by The Beatles is a mid-tempo pop song written in the key of E minor for the verse and D Major for the bridge and outro, featuring a distinct, upbeat walking bassline. The grey, almost mournful verses, along with the brighter, major-toned bridges and chorus, create a juxtaposition of feelings within the piece. The bridge also highlights The Beatles’ use of secondary dominants and chromaticism. Concluding in the tonic key of D Major, the song has an interesting interplay between Em and D Major throughout, which could be perceived as a Em: i, VI, III, II and D: vi, V7, I, vi, IV, ii, I progression.

Style Analysis

In terms of songwriting style, the dominant 7th chords give the piece a bluesy feel, while the fast tempo and 4/4 time signature make the track firmly a pop tune. The Beatles’ frequent change of chords and use of minor and major tonalities within the same piece introduces a certain depth to the song, and is a common technique used by the band in many of their songs.

Chords in the Verse 2 section of All My Loving by The Beatles are:

[‘Em’, ‘A7’, ‘D’, ‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘A7’, ‘Em’, ‘A7’, ‘D’, ‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘A’, ‘D’]